Thursday, February 26, 2015

What a week it has been.

First off, I found out I'M TRAINING, second, I found out I'm WHITEWASH TRAINING.

Monday
was Sister Lawson's last P day so we played volleyball at the stake
center with some other missionaries and members of our ward. Then for
FHE we had a talent show and a less active man (not YSA but we're still
working with him a little) came and performed on the piano. He's pretty
fantastic so it was cool to have him there.

Tuesday
we had dinner with the two of our favorite families in the whole wide
world and we took a big family picture with them! We love the Duces and
the Danhofs and they have each made such an impact in my life.

Thursday,
all the missionaries going home had a big conference. Usually they just
have individual interviews with President, but since there's 32 of them
(which is a huge massive group) they all met together. So I was on
exchanges in Stillaguamish, and we exchanged back after the conference.
So that was an emotional day.

We also got to
help some sisters who were struggling, and we took them on a drive and
just sat and talked with them overlooking Lake Stevens. So. Beautiful.
And they are doing much better now!

Friday we
worked at the Marysville Food Bank and a miracle happened! My recent
convert, Amy, in Everett, moved out to Marysville the week after she was
baptized and we lost contact with her since she didn't have a reliable
phone and we couldn't get her address. I've been worried about and
praying for her since she left, trying to find a way to track her down.
Then low and behold, her mom walked into the foodbank! I talked to her
and found out where Amy is. We were able to go find her Saturday and I
gave her a huge hug! I am so thankful we found Amy!

So
Thursday nights before transfers, we get "Leadership calls" where you
find out if you're going to be a Sister Training Leader/ Trainer, etc.
I've had this feeling for the past 3 months that as soon as Sister
Lawson and I were done being companions, I was going to train. I was so
nervous about it. But 10:30 pm came and went and I thought I was safe.
But at 11:30 when we were both asleep, we got the call and I am going to
be a trainer.

Friday afternoon we went to the
mission office for trainer's training, and guess who else was there?
Sister Wikstrom! She's training again for her last 12 weeks! We sat next
to each other and Sister Lawson was there too so it was cool having
them both there together. I love these sisters so much!!

Saturday
we spent most of the day packing both of us up since they're closing
our area. Since there are so few missionaries after this huge transfer
is leaving, so they have to close some areas and spread us all out, so
we have to have our apartment spotless.

Sunday
was the saddest of days. I found out in ward council that I was giving a
talk in sacrament since it was my last Sunday too. Sister Lawson was
giving her farewell talk so then they asked me to speak too. After
church, we had to say goodbye in the parking lot and we both cried a
lot. She will do amazing things and I am so proud of her! She
accidentally took the house key, so Sister Solosko and I had to drive
down to the mission office to pick it up and I got to see Sister Lawson
again for a few minutes!

That made me happy :)

Now on to finishing packing and preparing for a new area and companion tomorrow!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

We had Zone Meeting this week! We went to Arlington Zone,
the zone some of our other sisters are in and we got to instruct on
Family History! I am so excited for family history and I want everyone
to do it!

Thursday was lame though. We've been having
car problems so we took it into the dealership and it was only supposed
to take an hour/hour and a half but we were there for 4 and half hours
instead. Almost read the whole quad. Just kidding but it felt like it.
Finally some lady there offered to drop us off somewhere, so we had her
take us to our dinner appointment. On the way, we got to teach her the
Law of Chastity because she doesn't know what to do about her son, so
that was cool.

Friday since we didn't have our
car, we were walking around all day. We walked to the Food Bank and got
to serve there! I love going to the food bank- it just makes the day so
much better!

That night we had dinner with a
member, and the poor guy doesn't cook a lot. He pulled out his frozen
chicken we were going to cook with him, and it was 2 years expired. It
was so rotten and nasty! So Sister Lawson and I ran to the store and
bought some new chicken. The dinner was still super awkward, but it
makes for good memories!

Saturday, Jacob got
baptized! We've been working with him for a little bit now and he got
baptized! He's a re-baptism, when he was 18, his dad made him remove his
name. He went way off the path, and now he's come full circle. His
testimony is so strong so it is amazing to hear him say it!

And
Sunday was fantastic! It was such a good day at church, and one of our
friends from the foodbank came to hear sister Lawson and I teach gospel
principles.

Then we went to the mission
fireside, and it was so amazing. The spirit was so incredibly strong,
and Sister Wikstrom and Sister Davis were both there! I loved seeing
both of them!

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Monday was great! We had dinner with the one of the
members of the Arlington stake presidency who is also our Institute
teacher. I live in Marysville and he's on Camano Island which is about
an hour away, so he and his daughter came and picked us up. They live
way out in the middle of nowhere in the woods it was so beautiful!

And
for FHE, since everyone was so upset about the Seahawks losing, so we
just played volleyball the whole time. Sis Lawson played and I just
watched. Jacob, our investigator seemed to enjoy it, and he's making
more friends in the ward!

Tuesday I had a
slight operation on both my feet so we had to go down to Seattle. We
left Marysville at 2 and didn't get back until 6:30 so it took up quite a
bit of our day. I am doing great though! After we got back to
Marysville, Sis Lawson bought me ice cream, then carried me to and from
the car and church building for Institute. I just had my big socks on
and sat for as much as I could. Thankfully my feet were still numb so it
didn't hurt too bad.

Wednesday though, it had
worn off and I was really sore. I got a blessing from my district
leader and the other elders in our district, and went back to work! I'm
so grateful for the priesthood. Even though it didn't take the pain
away, I wasn't upset about it anymore and I was promised I would heal
quickly.

That night we had dinner with another one of our favorite families and that made everything better :)

Thursday
was MLC! I love getting to meet with all the other Sister Training
Leaders, Zone Leaders, Assistants, and President and Sister Bonham! It
was Sis Lawson's last MLC though so that was kinda sad. Lots of tears
saying goodbye to some of her favorite people.

I found a quote a while ago that has made a big impact on me. It says ""Holy Places' may have more to do with how one lives than where one
lives. If we live worthy of the constant companionship of the Holy
Ghost, then we stand in a Holy Place." I know that as we are worthy of
the Holy Ghost, we will be able to always stand in holy places and we
can create a holy place wherever we are.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Super Bowl and Spiritual Experiences:

It's been a great week! Last Monday it was so sunny
and beautiful! It was up the 60s so we put on short and t shirts and
hand washed the car. It was so fun!

We went on
2 exchanges this week which was exhausting, but we love our sister so
much. I've decided that exchanges really just make you appreciate your
companion, even though we love the other sisters. I am so thankful for
Sister Lawson and that President Bonham was inspired to put us together
:)

Sunday was the Superbowl. Everyone here are
superfanatics so I am so glad football season is finally over. Now
everyone will come to church on Sundays! We had to come in early to
avoid all the drunks. Sad the Seahawks lost though

So
I want to hear about everyone's spiritual experiences, and how you see
the hand of God throughout their lives! I love hearing about these
experiences and I ask that everyone will send them directly to me at Shelby.tennant@myldsmail.net. I have prayed for more myself, and it's incredible what happens when we recognize the miracles in our lives.